Third-rail fifth-leg bed-brace.



T. M. MOBPHIS.

THIRD RAIL FIFTH LEG BED BRACE. APPLICATION FILED mm. 1911.

azz a 71 I 1 y Witnesses w "k7 by Inventor Atiorneys "Tieiaroiei ren;

THOMAS MORP HIS, OF BYNUM, NQRTH CA ROLINA.

THTRD-RAIL FIFT-HJQEG 'BED-BRACE.

Application filed January 4, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. Monrlns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bynum, in the county of Chatham and State of NorthCai-olina, have invented a new and useful Third-Rail Fifth-Leg BedBrace, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to means for bracing the central portions of bed bot toms, to eliminate the annoyance and difficulties attendant to thebreaking or sagging of the slats at the center of a bed, it being the object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device for sustaining the slats of the bed at the center thereof.

It is also the object of the invention to provide a device of the nature indicated which can be readily applied to various beds, and which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, as well as being ellicient and practical in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which Will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device, portions being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof as applied, portions being broken away.

The device embodies: a leg 1 which can be mounted upon a caster 2 so as to be readily moved about with the bed, and this leg 1 is denominated the fifth-leg since it is used at the center of the bed and provides a fifth leg therefor. A rail 3 of suitable length is fitted intermediate its ends in a mortise i with which the upper end of the leg 1 is provided, and the parts are secured together rigidly in any suitable manner. braces 5 being secured between the leg 1 and end portions of the rail 3 to steady the parts. The rail 3 is provided with upper notches Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. i5, 191%.

Serial No. 140,618.

6 near its ends for receiving and engaging the ordinary cross slats 7 of a bed which have their terminals seated on the longi tndinal side rails 8 of the bed, as seen in Fig. 2.

The device also includes a central transverse slat 9 arranged at right angles to the longitudinal rail 3, the intermediate portion of the slat 9 being fitted within a mortise 10 with which the rail 3 is provided, and the parts being secured rigidly together, there being braces 11 between the leg 1 and end portions of theslat 9. The upper ends of the braces 11 can be mortised in the slat 9, as illustrated.

In use, the ends of the slat 9 are seatable upon the rails 8 at the center between the slats 7, the rail 3 being located between the rails 8 and providing a third rail for the bed, which is engageable with the 7 that engage the transverse notches 6 of the rail 3. The slat 9 in seating on the rails 54 and the rail 3 in engaging the slats 7 will prevent the device from turning out of place, and the rail 3 in engaging the slats 7 will prevent the device from tilting longi tudinally, while the slat 9 in engaging the rails 8 will prevent the device from tilting transversely. The attachment is therefore held firmly in place relative to the bed, with the fifth leg atthe center to support the central slat 9 and adjoining slat-s T, to avoid the sagging or breaking of the slats. The leg 1 will readily move about on the door when the bed is moved, and even though the device can be readily applied and removed, it practically forms an integral part of the bed when it is applied.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A central supporting device for bed bottoms embodying a leg, a third rail carried thereby having means for engaging two slats of a bed, and a slat carried by the leg at an angle with said rail and engageahlc with the side rails of the bed.

2. A central supporting device for bed bottoms embodying a fifth leg, a third rail secured between its ends to the upper end of the leg and provided with upper notches THOMAS M. MORPHIS.

Witnesses:

JAS. L. GRIFFIN V. H. GRIFFIN.

near its ends for engaging slats of abed, a slat secured between its ends to the upper end 01 said leg and arranged at right angles 7 to the rail to engage the side rails of the bed, and braces between the leg and third rail and second mentioned slat.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by eddressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington,-D.0. 

